by Elle Casey
“How can you be so cold about this?” asked Candi, scowling at Sarah. “Don’t you worry about Kevin, about how he’s feeling and what’s going to happen?” Her voice had a bit of a shriek to it.
Sarah glared at her, pissed Candi would even suggest such a thing about her feelings towards her own twin brother. “I’m not cold, Candi. I’m confident. I know my brother. He can handle anything. You of all people should know that about him.” She threw up her hands and let them slap her thighs when they came down. “For crap’s sake … he punches hammerheads when they come near our boat! He gets cut open by propellers and just keeps pushing through! He can hold his breath underwater longer and run faster than any of us!” She grabbed Candi’s shoulders and shook her once. “You just need to stop all that crying and poor-me bullcrap and think positive for a change. Your whiney-baby act is getting seriously old.” She let go of Candi - kind of flinging her away lightly - and stepped back, folding her arms over her chest. There was a challenge in her eyes, and she was hoping Candi would take her up on it. The little crybaby needed something to get mad about to wake up her courage and independence. Sarah knew it was in there somewhere.
Candi was the girl who’d fed all of them when they were stranded. She’d taken a bullet and just handled it, even when her stupid boyfriend had crapped all over her. The real Candi needed to stand up and be strong again, or Sarah was going to knock her out; and she wasn’t going to feel one bit sorry about it either if she did. Wimps were seriously annoying.
It was so quiet after Sarah’s little speech, they could hear James scratching himself in the other room, his small back paw thumping the ground rhythmically while the opposite one worked on the fur under his chin.
Candi cleared her throat, blinking a couple times before standing straighter. “You’re right. I’m sorry for being such a big baby. If anyone can get out of this mess, it’s Kevin. I shouldn’t have doubted him.”
Sarah yanked Candi’s little body into a hug, talking over her shoulder. “See? Things are better already. Now I don’t have to kick your butt. And you know what?” She pushed Candi away from her and looked her in the eye. “Kevin’s Just-Say-What-The-Fuck Plans always work. Always.”
“They do?” asked Candi in her pitiful voice again. But then she straightened and said it once more in a confident, strong tone. “They do?”
“Yes. Definitely. So let’s focus on getting ready and cleaning and whatever else we can do to get your mind off this. We’ll have some dinner, watch some TV or play a card game, and then go to bed. Maybe he’ll get here in the next hour or so, and we’ll all just laugh about this. Or maybe it’ll be in the middle of the night or tomorrow or next week. Whatever. He’s going to be okay.” Sarah refused to consider any other alternative, knowing it was only this unwavering confidence in his infallibility that was keeping her from turning into a complete mess of unbalanced emotion.
Jonathan nodded. “We have preparations to make in the event we’re discovered, and idle minds will be our enemies right now. Worry and anxiety could make solid reasoning an impossibility, and we need to be sharp and on our toes at all times.” Jonathan cast a glance down at the pit bull who was lying on the ground nearby, her head resting on her paws. James came walking into the room as if on cue. “I’m going to go work with the dogs and see what I can do about setting up some early warning systems around the cabin. What are you two going to do?”
“We’re going to make dinner and clean up. Come back in an hour to eat.”
Jonathan nodded, leaning over to grab a quick kiss from his girlfriend’s soft lips. He left the two girls together, whistling for the dogs to join him as he walked out the door.
***
Jonathan spent several minutes walking the perimeter of the cabin with the dogs, talking to them as he went.
“I think if we get a warning about someone coming from this far out it should be enough time to mobilize and be prepared.” He crouched down and pointed to the dirt road that was about fifty feet in front of them and then to the cabin, looking at each dog in turn. “See, we don’t want anyone getting close to the cabin without us knowing. Stranger danger, do you understand?”
Xena just stared at him as if she were trying really hard to understand. James tilted his head once looking confused for a few seconds before something off to the side caught his attention. He ran over and chased whatever it was through the leaves, disappearing into the trees.
Jonathan shook his head as he reached out and patted Xena on the head. “I’m afraid you’re our only hope, Xena. James unfortunately has a pretty serious case of attention deficit disorder. Maybe you’re in better shape because you’re a mom. You have to be more serious and mature when you’re a parent. I think that has a calming effect.”
Jonathan was struck by Xena’s kind eyes. She just looked at him as if offering him comfort. At least that was what it felt like, especially when she stepped over and licked his chin a couple times. He rubbed her neck on both sides, digging his fingers into her short fur to make sure to give her a good scratch, too. “Yes, you’re a good momma. Just like Sarah’s going to be. Strong and loyal and protective. And tough when she needs to be. That’s you too, isn’t it, Xena? Isn’t it, girl?”
She responded enthusiastically, her tail wagging rapidly, moving her hind quarters right along with it. Jonathan patted her one more time before standing. “The question is … what kind of early warning system would work out here? Let’s go into that shed and see what we can find in there to help us.” He left the wooded area he’d been traipsing around in and went back to the shed, opening the handle and stepping inside.
The walls were lined with hooks that had all manner of tools and other things hanging from them. There was a dirty workbench in the back against the far wall, and on it were boxes and bins that looked long-forgotten. Squeezing past the side of the car, he made his way to the first dusty box. Inside were stacks of magazines.
“Well, this is no help for anything except maybe keeping the girls busy or starting fires with.” He shoved it aside and pulled another box closer. This one was full of metal parts. He took a few rusted things out and studied them. Some he couldn’t identify, and others he knew to be things he might find in small motors or even kitchen appliances. Other boxes revealed much of the same thing, all of their contents rusted and none of them usable as any parts for any type of operating machine.
He pushed the last bin back into place on the bench and studied the walls. There were several coils of rope and twine hanging there, an extension cord, a rake, an axe, a saw and a shovel. All of the tools were really old and in need of maintenance. Jonathan climbed over the car to get to the axe and took it down along with the saw. He hefted the chopping tool up, staring at it closely and testing its weight and balance. “At least we can get some firewood prepared if nothing else,” said Jonathan to the two dogs who were sitting just outside the entrance of the shed now. James came inside for a few seconds in response to Jonathan’s voice, but then ran out again soon after, disappearing around the side of the door.
Jonathan walked back to the house with a tool in each hand, looking out towards the dirt road driveway, wishing it didn’t make him feel so empty and scared to not see Kevin driving up on that motorcycle. It was getting dark, and Jonathan strongly suspected that if Kevin could get back, he would have already. Jonathan didn’t believe in praying to any deity for help in times of need, but he sure was going to work whatever bit of math and science he knew of into whatever formulas he could come up with to make himself feel better about Kevin’s chances of survival. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing his best friend and future brother-in-law - which is what Kevin would be someday if Jonathan ever got up the nerve to convince Sarah to marry him.
Chapter Eight
Safehouse
CANDI LAY ON HER BACK in bed alone, tears dripping silently down her temples and into her hair and ears. Last night Kevin had been in bed with her, and she’d enjoyed it; but she hadn’t really full
y appreciated how lucky she was to have him there until now. Now that he was gone.
Sarah had been so positive all evening that he’d show, Candi had almost expected him to drive up the dirt road and announce himself before dinner. But then dinner came and went, and then several games of cards were played, before she finally had to admit to herself that no matter how positive they were, Kevin wasn’t going to come back. At least not tonight. There was no reason for him to stay gone this long unless there was a good reason, like he’d been arrested.
Candi’s mind wandered to the day he’d finally spoken to her in the lunchroom, after they’d returned from the island where they’d been marooned together for so long - days and weeks that had been scary, thrilling, satisfying, and life-changing, all at the same time. He’d avoided her for weeks after returning, looking as if he’d fallen right back into his normal life, the one that hadn’t included her or Jonathan. She’d nearly died from the neglect and broken heart. And then he’d been there on bended knee, begging for her forgiveness.
He told her about how scared he’d been when she was shot in the boat - how terrified he was to think he was going to lose her to the grim reaper. He explained how his life had changed, and she realized, listening to him talk, that it had been one of those massive, fundamental shifts in his whole perspective that he’d experienced - maybe more devastating for him than hers or Jonathan’s, or maybe even Sarah’s had been. Their time together had caused him to question every single thing about himself: his morals, his lifestyle, his friends, his goals, his past, and even his future. What used to seem so important to him had suddenly become empty and disgusting. What he used to blow off or worse, disdain, had become the center of his universe and his reason for being. He told Candi that falling in love with her and then seeing her almost taken from this world had caused something to short-circuit in his brain. So he’d drowned the pain and confusion with familiarity, submersing himself in his old life, trying to get back some control.
She’d accepted his reasons and excuses only because he’d been so sincere; and it hadn’t hurt that he’d made such public declarations of his love for her in front of the whole school. But it was only now that she fully appreciated what he’d said. Right now, she’d give anything for some control over her life. It felt like this crazy Russian mobster was maneuvering them around like puppets on strings, as they lived every moment expecting one of his henchmen to come sneaking up with a knife in his hand.
James barking madly at the front door cut off her train of thought like an assassin’s blade had just sliced right through it. She jumped out of bed, racing to the door. Kevin!
Jonathan was already at the bottom of the stairs, his arm held out to stop her.
She pushed on it, intent on running right past him, but he refused to let her by. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Get in the room with Sarah. Lock the door. We don’t know who it is yet.”
“But I hear the motorcycle!” she nearly screeched.
“You hear a motorcycle. Get in the room!”
Candi’s heart plummeted. He was right. She ran into the downstairs room and slammed the door behind her.
Sarah was sitting up in bed. The light coming in the window from the moon outlined her sleepy form. “What’s up?” she asked drowsily.
“A motorcycle’s coming up the road. Jonathan told me to come in here and wait with you. He’s going to see if it’s Kevin.”
“Of course it’s Kevin,” said Sarah, lying back down. “Does he think a killer’s going to ride up making a bunch of noise and announce his arrival? Hey, kids, I’m here to murder you! Wake up!” She snorted once and then quieted down. Candi heard the deep breathing that told her Sarah had already gone back to sleep.
She stood at the door, wanting to be as sure as Sarah that everything was okay so she could run out and welcome Kevin with the fiercest hug she was capable of giving; but Jonathan was right. It was better to be safe than sorry. No one said the bad guys were always going to come with knives. Maybe the next one would be riding a motorcycle and carrying an automatic rifle or handguns strapped inside of his jacket. Anything was possible, and she had to be prepared for that.
The creepy sensation of being a mafia-manipulated puppet slithered over her body again, making her feel like the strings being pulled were slowly moving themselves into position to hang her with an invisible noose. She had to breathe long and deep to move past the feeling of being strangled with fear.
***
Kevin used the flickering headlamp and the memory he had of the road to lead him back to the cabin. It had been one hell of a long friggin day, and he was exhausted. Just another hundred yards to go and I’ll be home. The idea of home being a place he barely knew, temporary, a hideout from people like the one who’d dogged him for the last ten hours - either in reality or in his mind - would have been unbearable if it hadn’t been for the people waiting there for him. Not only was it his twin sister, carrying his future niece or nephew in her belly, but his best friend Jon, and his girlfriend - Candi - the girl who’d turned his entire world upside down, shaken him out, and put him in a whole other universe filled with love and loyalty like he’d never known before. He’d thought that the true love crap and soul-mates thing was just in the movies, but his feelings for Candi had taught him differently. And he was damn sure not going to lose it if he had anything to say about it. He’d already come close once during their escape from the island. He was still working every day to convince her he should be forgiven for his three weeks of temporary insanity.
The first thing he saw was James, who came tearing out of the darkness to bark at his wheels. “Hey, buddy! James, it’s me! Good dog! Good dog to come out here and kick my ass.”
James’ growl went from vicious to happy, his short sharp barks replacing the hair-raising growly ones he’d used on his approach.
Xena came running out of the cabin as Kevin got closer, his headlight illuminating her boobs swinging from side to side under her legs. She didn’t growl or bark, she just got close enough to trot next to the bike. Kevin could tell she was withholding judgment until he stopped. Clearly, it would only be when he fully identified himself and was accepted by one of the cabin’s occupants that he’d be safe to get off the bike, as far as she was concerned. His heart swelled with gratitude for this ugly dog’s adoption of the people he loved. Her tattered ears and beaten body took on a new beauty for him in that moment. She was a survivor, and with girls like her on their team, maybe they could be survivors too.
He drew up to the bottom of the stairs, Jonathan coming down to greet him. Kevin shut off the engine and pulled off the sweaty helmet, accepting the embrace his friend offered. They stayed in that position, hugging each other for a few seconds, each of them patting the other hard on the back as they finished and pulled apart.
“Glad you’re back, Kevin. You freaked us out being gone so long.”
“Where are the girls?”
“I made them stay locked up in Sarah’s room, just in case.”
Kevin nodded, angry at the idea of a murderer coming after his family while he was gone. He looked down at the pit bull. “Do I pass, Xena? Can I get off the bike and come inside?” He held his hand down for her to check out. She sniffed at him, trotted around the bike once, and then came back and licked his hand. When she was finished with her approval process, she left him to run up the stairs and go inside the cabin.
“I guess that’s an affirmative,” said Jonathan, taking Kevin’s helmet from him. “Come on in. Candi’s been having a rough time. You should go see her.”
Kevin’s throat closed up, thinking about how he must have put her through the wringer being gone so long. He got off the bike, pulling the keys out and handing them to Jonathan who was standing by silently. “Take care of these, would ya?” Kevin was shaking, either from the evening cold or his nerves, he wasn’t sure. He’d driven maybe a hundred miles today, getting away from the town and hiding in places he was sure no one would ever look. He
tried to be visible in the next town over, letting several police officers see him driving out of town, headed away even farther from the cabin than he already was. And then he’d backtracked, avoiding being seen as much as he could. Anytime he thought a cop might have seen him, he turned around and made sure they saw him going the other way.
It was exhausting because of the effort, but also because the whole time he was doing it, he had no idea if it was helping or hurting them. There’d been no one to bounce ideas off of or share in the responsibility. He used to pride himself in going his own way and being the leader of everything he did. Today he learned that he much preferred the team approach and letting other people who might be more analytical help make the decisions. It was just another reminder for him of how much Jonathan and Candi Buckley had changed his life for the better.
He strode across the wood floor to the door leading to Jonathan and Sarah’s room, tapping on the wood. “Candi, it’s me. Open up.”
The door flew open, and he was immediately tackled by a spider monkey of a girlfriend. It threw him back a few paces, but he steadied himself quickly and gripped onto her as tightly as she did to him.
“Don’t you ever do that to me again,” she cried into his neck.
“I promise … I won’t,” he said, crying a little into hers.
***
They ate a breakfast of oatmeal together at the table. Candi and Kevin’s chairs were touching. They hadn’t let each other out of their sight since Kevin had come back last night.
“Thanks, Kevin,” said Jonathan. “I know what you did yesterday was difficult and stressful, but I have to think it had some positive benefit. At the very least, you were seen over in that other town by a few cops, so if any of them put together all the pieces of us being together, they’ll hopefully assume we’re staying somewhere over there and not here.”
